Description

RTI appeal before SEBI's Appellate Authority regarding queries on a SEBI employee in the Department of Debt and Hybrid Securities (DDHS), training details, SCORES complaints, and OBPP regulatory actions.

Summary

This is an order by SEBI’s Appellate Authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005, in Appeal No. 6755 of 2026 filed by an anonymous appellant. The appeal challenges the response provided by SEBI’s Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to an RTI application dated February 08, 2026. The application sought information about a specific SEBI employee (ID 2696, KRASHNA) in the Department of Debt and Hybrid Securities (DDHS), related training, complaint enforcement actions, and SEBI’s regulatory powers over Online Bond Platform Providers (OBPPs).

Key Points

  • Appellant filed RTI application on February 08, 2026, seeking six categories of information
  • CPIO responded on February 16, 2026; appellant filed first appeal (Reg. No. SEBIH/A/E/26/00070) the same day
  • Query 1 (employee posting duration): CPIO cited exemption under Section 8(1)(a) of RTI Act, stating internal posting details could hamper SEBI’s supervisory functioning
  • Query 2 (training details of employee): CPIO stated information not maintained in the format/manner requested
  • Query 3 (SCORES enforcement actions by employee): CPIO held query was vague and not ‘information’ under Section 2(f) of RTI Act
  • Query 4 (count of employees on inspection/complaints for SDI defaults): CPIO stated information not maintained in normal course of regulation
  • Query 5 (DDHS powers over OBPP for SDI instruments): CPIO directed appellant to SEBI (Issue and Listing of Securitised Debt Instruments and Security Receipts) Regulations, 2008
  • Query 6 (OBPP lower denomination offerings before December 18, 2025 circular): CPIO held query seeks clarification/opinion, not ‘information’ under RTI Act

Regulatory Changes

No regulatory changes. This is an adjudicatory order on an individual RTI appeal and does not introduce any new rules or amend existing regulations.

Compliance Requirements

No compliance requirements for market participants. This order is specific to the RTI appeal between the anonymous appellant and SEBI’s CPIO.

Important Dates

  • February 08, 2026: RTI application filed by appellant
  • February 16, 2026: CPIO response issued; appellant filed first appeal on same date
  • Referenced circular: SEBI circular HO/17/11/24(1) issued December 18, 2025 (related to OBPP)

Impact Assessment

This order has no direct market or operational impact. It is a procedural RTI matter confined to information requests about internal SEBI staffing and departmental functions. The references to OBPP regulations and SDI enforcement suggest the appellant may have broader concerns about SEBI’s oversight of Online Bond Platform Providers, but no market-wide implications arise from this appeal order itself.

Impact Justification

Routine RTI appeal concerning individual queries about a SEBI employee and departmental functions; no market-wide regulatory changes or compliance obligations for market participants.